World's First Anti-Organ Trafficking Treaty Signed by 14 Nations

Human organ trafficking often involves international crime and desperate victims. The World Health Organization estimates that some 10,000 black market transplants are carried out every year. Starting Wednesday, nations will now be able to sign the first ever international treaty to take on human organ trafficking.

World's First Anti-Organ Trafficking Treaty Signed by 14 Nations

The agreement would make it illegal to take organs from people living or dead without their free and full consent. The treaty also bans making money off transplants. Under the treaty, victims would be eligible for compensation, but would also be the focus of prevention efforts which are intended to guarantee the transparency of and equitable access to organ transplant services. Governments would be allowed to decide whether to prosecute organ donors as well as if they should be considered as accomplices in the trafficking.

The treaty is open to all countries and at least five countries have to ratify the agreement before it takes effect. Fourteen nations, including Britain, Spain, Italy and Turkey are expected to sign the treaty on Wednesday at an international conference devoted to the topic in Santiago de Compostela, Spain. Other countries expected to sign on Wednesday include, Albania, Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Greece, Luxembourg, Norway, Moldavia, Poland and Portugal.

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